Is lane filtering on a motorbike acceptable in Austin? (buying, live)

[charlie_g]

Hi everybody,
I am relocating from the UK to Austin in 3 weeks time and was thinking of getting a motorbike to commute to work on to try and shorten my commute time. I was interested in the SW Austin area but have been told the commute to work will be pretty hideous.

What is the stance on lane filtering on a bike through slow moving / stationery traffic in Austin?

Am I likely to get in trouble with the law or other irrate car drivers?

[love roses]

In this traffic, it might be pretty dangerous. I think it's illegal to do if traffic is stationary.

[austin-steve]

It's not commonly seen here. I wouldn't do it. It may even be a moving violation.

When I was in California on a trip a few years ago, it was so common it sort of freaked me out, all these motorcycles weaving ahead in traffic, driving between the lines of cars. I never see it here in Austin. Maybe others do see it up in NW Austin where most of the Californians live.

Steve

[charlie_g]

Shame. Im really worried about commute time. Lane filtering is common practice here in the UK. It must be pretty unbearable on a bike stationery in commute traffic in the summer!!!!
Maybe Im worrying too much. Soon find out I guess.
There goes my plan of buying a vespa and having a whippy aerial with a Union Jack on it and being the eccentric Englishman.

[Willys]

I think the danger actually lies in the popularity tobacco chewing among nervous drivers...

[austin-steve]

There goes my plan of buying a vespa and having a whippy aerial with a Union Jack on it and being the eccentric Englishman.

Maybe with a getup like that, people won't get mad and honk, they'll just shake their heads and mutter "keepin' Austin weird". You'd gain further acceptance if you wear a bikini also, ala Leslie.
Leslie Cochran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[achtungpv]

I've seen it on I-35 often back when I used to have drive it. Also, it happens on Mopac after 11pm or so when all the ricers are racing. Nothing is more disturbing than a bike going between you and the other car at 120MPH.

[love roses]

I don't know if I'd risk my life on 35 on a vespa. A harley or something maybe, but a vespa, no. I think it's a recent law, because so many bike accidents happened because of it. My husband had the unfortunate experience of seeing one happen on 35 a few years ago.

[normalguy]

Originally Posted by charlie_g

There goes my plan of buying a vespa and having a whippy aerial with a Union Jack on it and being the eccentric Englishman.

You might get an appreciative honk or two. Since this is Texas and the union jack has some similarities with the confederate flag. They could also mistake your vespa for horse, will get you more brownie points.

[south side chap]

Having arrived from London some six weeks ago and also having been a Vespa & Lambretta owner in the UK (albeit a few years back), I've been considering buying a scooter here in Austin. I've seen a surprisingly large amount of vintage Vespas around, and at least two shops catering to their needs. Yet to see a Lambretta.

I've yet to get a handle on how two wheelers are treated by other users but, lets face it, it can't be any worse than scooting around London.

A couple of other points to consider. Other than I35 (which is horrible a lot of the time), the traffic here is fine if you are at all used to either London, the M25, or the motorways around Brum & Manchester during rush hour. The big difference is that while the major arterial routes (Mopac & I35) get busy during the rush, other important routes (Lamar springs to mind) run well. In London during the rush it seems that every single road gets jammed, providing no quick routes to anywhere. I drive to Downtown Austin from about four miles out (in South Austin) in 15 - 20 minutes during the morning rush.

You can get a permit to ride without a helmet if that floats your boat (not for me). And if you have some luggage you could take a leaf out of the book of the guy I saw riding a Goldwing towing a trailer with another motorbike on it! Not sure if that was legal but it was certainly amusing to see.